How to Listen to Classical 90.5

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard that we recently launched a new radio station, Classical 90.5. The station is dedicated to bringing you classical music, 24 hours a day.

If you don’t live in the Columbia/Boone County area, you’re probably wondering what your listening options are. Classical 90.5 is available for listening all over the world!

If you live in Columbia/Boone County:

Most parts of Boone County can pick up Classical 90.5 on a standard radio without any problems. If you cannot, there are likely two factors at play: the terrain, and Classical 90.5’s low power. If you are unable to listen to Classical 90.5, the programming is available on KBIA2, which is available on an HD Radio. You can purchase an HD Radio for your home or car from stores like Best Buy.

Classical 90.5 is simulcast on KBIA2. You would need to purchase an HD Radio to listen to this station. You can purchase an HD Radio for your home or car from stores like Best Buy.

If you live in Mexico, Missouri:

Classical 90.5 is simulcast on KAUD2, also at 90.5 MHz. You can listen to this station with an HD Radio. Various models for your home or car are available at stores such as Best Buy.

Classical 90.5 and KAUD are both broadcasting on 90.5 MHz, but they are both two separate stations.

If you live in Kirksville, or anywhere outside Mid-Missouri:

Classical 90.5 is available as a web-stream from muclassical.org. You can stream our station to your computer or to a Wi-Fi radio (also available from Best Buy).

You can listen to our station on your phone or tablet as well. Search the Apple App Store or the Google Play store for KBIA to download our app.

Some notes about reception:

Because Classical 90.5 is a low-powered station (1650 Watts, as opposed to KBIA’s 100,000 Watts), your reception can be sensitive to interference from terrain and multi-path. If you live in a valley, or in an area surrounded by trees or large buildings, you may have difficulty tuning in the station.

To remedy this, we recommend a good-quality radio. Many cheaper home radios lack the sensitivity (how well a radio can lock into a weak station) and selectivity (how well the station plays your desired station without accidentally tuning in a neighboring station) to pick up weak broadcasts.

High-quality radios generally have the ability to connect an antenna. Your radio may have come with a T-shaped wire antenna. Extending that antenna as high as it can go will improve your reception. If you have an outdoor TV antenna, you can connect it to your television and radio by using a cable splitter, available for a few dollars at Walmart.

If you are still having issues, try moving your radio and antenna closer to a window. Weak FM signals don’t travel through walls very well, especially brick.